Spring needle pile fabric knitting machine



061. 15, 1935. D OORE '1 2,017,073

SPRING NEEDLE PILE FABRIC KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 25, 1931 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 15, 1935. Q O I 2,017,073

SPRING NEEDLE FILE FABRIC KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 25, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 15, 1935. MQQRE SPRING NEEDLE PILE FABRIC KNITTING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 25,- 1931 gwvenhn Patented Oct. 15, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I SPRiNG NEEDLEgIgEgllBBIC KNITTING I David Pelton Moore, Avon Park, Fla.

Application June 25, 1931, Serial No. 546,893 7 Claims. (Cl. 66-147) not transversely as is the present case.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an apparatus including a knitting machine and a 'fiber feeding attachment therefor by means of which knitted pile fabric with the pile-extending longitudinally is produced, there -being a brushing device operable preferably from the attachment for simultaneously brushing the pile and setting it in the desired longitudinal direction.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a machine of this type in which spring needles can be employed to receive and knit in the fibers fed thereto by a fiber feeding device so that a material similar to that set forth in my U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,791,741, granted February 10, 1931, can be produced on a'spring needle knitting machine of the up or down feed type, instead of on a latch needle machine as has previously been contemplated.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a fiber feeding attachment which can be readily coordinated with a spring needle knitting machine to hold the knitted material or web down upon the shanks of the needles'during the passage of such-needles through the fiber feeding brush, said holding means either being a member of the attachment or associated with the knitting machine.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of an auxiliary high speed dofllng brush for brushing the fibers after being knitted in in a longitudinal position relatively to the fabric.

Still another object 'of the invention is the provision of an attachment which can be used one to each yarn feed of'the knitting machine so. that a plural number of fiber feeding attachments can be used and all operated in synchrony with the movement of the needle carrier of the knitting machine. Still another object of the present invention is the provision of automatic means for halting the machine should the fiber sliver become too thin or give out in any one of the attachments.

Still another object of the present invention is the designing of the speed ratios between the peripheral speed of the fiber feeding brush and the needle cylinder, whereby the desired quantity of the fibers is fed to the needles, so that the provision of an attachment which can be easily and quickly attached and detached from the present type of spring needle knitting machines, using the main supporting means similar to those used for attaching the yarn feeds, so that the attachment can be installed and removed by the knitters and readily adjusted to' obtain the desired relative position of the fiber feeding brush to the needles of the machine.

With the foregoing and other objects in view 10 and as will presently appear as the description proceeds, it will be apparent that many changes in the details of construction and arrangement of the parts may be resorted to and still be well within the purview of what is claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the attachment as applied to a spring needle knitting machine, which latter has only a. portion of its needle carrier or cylinder in diagrammatic section.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2, of Fig. 3.

Figure 3 is an elevation of the attachment looking from the knitting machine.

Figure 4 is a section on'line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Figure 5 is a cross section through the pile set- 26 ting brush.

Figure 6 is a section taken on line 6-8 of Fig. 1.

Figure 7 is a section taken on line of Fig. 1.

Figure 8 is a top plan view and section, showing the supporting and attaching member for attach- 30 ing the fiber feeding device or attachment to, the knitting machine.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of a napping brush showing its use with a top" or up feeding knitting machine.

Figure 10 is a front elevation thereof.

Figure 11 is a view similar to'Fig. 9 showing the pile-setting brush in use upon a down" feeding knitting machine.

Figures 12 and -13 are details of a modified form 0 of presser to be used in lieu of a rotary disk type.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral l0 designates the table or bed plate of a spring needle machine, having the clamping bolts ll and a knitting or needle carrier or cylinder II. This 45 cylinder is driven in the usual manner by a center 'drive G and has disposed relatively thereto as is to the slotted plates l1, two in each attachment. 55

These elements are of the type now used .to sup- P rt the 'yarn feeding elements relatively to the cylinder.

Mounted in the frames are the main cardin drum [8, two feeding cylinders l9 and I8. two wfeed-in rollers 20 and 20', and two pairs 2| and 22, respectively, of assisting carding cylinders,

. all of which are mounted to rotate in the direction of the arrows, Fig. 2. The carding clothes of these cylinders and drum are of the bent knee type, while the rotary fiber feeding brush 23, which receives its load from the main drum I8, is provided with' the radially disposed relatively long stiff pins 24. The body of this clothing carrying these pins 24, is composed of rubber and fabric, with sufllcient rubber to anchor the pins. These pins are bent U-shaped with the junction portion upon the rear face of the fabric, and by this arrangement are permitted to flex from and by the rubber of the fabric, so that the fibers are fed with a ,more even distribution upon the needles 21.

' When this fiber feeding attachment is used.

with the spring needles 21, the same must be adjusted so that the center line of the brush 23 will be just at or below the ends 26 of the needles 21, and with the ends of the pins 24 just slightly intermeshing or interdigitating with the needles 21 as the cylinder l2 and the brush are rotated in coordination. By this arrangement fibers taken by the brush 23 from the drum l8 will be wiped was to enter the space a of the needles 2! to be brushed upwardly and seated in the loop b of the needles; and as the speed of the cylinder I2 is so adjusted as to move say 1 inch while the periphery of the brush 23 is moving '7 to 8 inches,

the needles are substantially stationary when they move across the teeth of the brush 23. This ratio of approximately between 'I and 8 to 1, has been arrived at after very many experiments, and it has been found that a better fabric is produced, that the needles will not be overcrowded and, that less wear due to friction is caused both upon the beards and hooks of the needles and the ends of the teeth 24. u

It is also desirable when the needles are presented to and are passing through the brush 23, that the edge 28 of the knitted material 29, be below the space a of the needles, thus leaving the beards of the needles free to receive the fibers. To accomplish this, I prefer to use a circular disk presser 30, rotatably mounted on a stud 3|, which in turn is carried by an adjustable arm 32, supported by the frame H in such a manner as to be presented upon the side of the needles inside of the brush 23, as shown in Figure 1. It is also possible to support the presser 30 from one of the clamping supports 33. Also in place of the circular disk presser 30, the curved presser plate 33, as shown in Figs. 12 and 13 may be used.

In some classes of fabric, it is desirable that the pile be laid longitudi1'ially,andv this is at present accomplished by brushing the pile face of the completed fabric, but in the present instance,

means have been provided to accomplish thisresult directly and simultaneously with the knitting operation. Normally as the cylinder I 2 rotates, the pile is pulled slightly in the opposite direction to the movement of said cylinder, and consequently the pile will lie transversely or nearly so on the material as it is taken from the machine. To prevent this, and to cause the pile to lie longitudinally of the fabric during the knitting thereof, a rotary brush 34 is attached to and carried by the shaft 35, upon which is mounted the brush 23, or-as shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11, a brush I5, independently of but which may be operably connected to the shaft 35, by a coupling 10 and flexible shaft 1 I may beemployed. When the latter is used, with an up feed spring needle machine, it is mounted as shown in Fig. 9, wherein, a supporting bolt or member I6, supported by a member I1, is so mounted that the apertured foot 14, fits upon the upper end 16 of the bolt support IS, with the curved arm I3, supporting 5 the short shaft 12 with the brush upon the outside of the cylinder [2, to brush upwardly the pile of the knitted material 29', while supported in and being knitted by the spring needles 21'. Or when the brush is used with a down feed, or latch needle machine, the parts are mounted as shown in Fig. 11, wherein the base 11 of the knitting machine has adjustably attached there as at 14' and 15', the curved arm 13, so that brush I5, acts downwardly upon the pile of the knitted 15 material I9, while supported by the latch needles 18. This can also be used with down feed spring needles. The bristles of the brush 15 are straight radially disposed wire or hair and merely brush to set the pile and do not tear, nap, teazle or pro? 20 duce a nap from the web of the fabric, as the present pile is formed from short loose fibers folded upon the individual needles and knitted in with the basic yarn, so that the free ends of the fibers are merely brushed or set in the desired 25,

versely, but in practice a brush 15 approximately 35 A inch greater in diameter than the brush 23 will perform the desired setting of the pile or brushing it in the desired direction.

Although the present fiber feeding attachment may be driven in any desired or convenient manner to the end that it may be operated in timed relation to the needle cylinder l2, one method of driving it from a knitting machine will entail the use of a center gear drive as shown in U. S.

Patent No. 32,241, to in turn drive the gear 45.

A gear 36 is fast to the shaft l8 and has a gear 31 meshing therewith and carried by the shaft 38. This shaft '38 is journaled in a support 39 and carries a gear 40 upon its lower end. A journaled gear 4! meshes with the gear 40 and is 0 journaled in the bracket 43, so that the shaft 42 driven by a gear 45 may be moved at any desired angle to receive its motion from the knitting machine drive, or any other prime mover whereby synchrony can be had between the operation of the attachment and the knitting machine. This shaft 42 may be flexible so that the attachment may be placed at various desired adjustments, and universal connections may be resorted to where necessary. By this arrangement, one of these attachments to each yarn or thread feeding element of the knitting machine may be employed, the attachment being positioned just slightly ahead of its respective co-operative yarn feeding element. In practice, however, four fiber feeding attachments are preferable, as it then places them at 90 positions, and permits sufficient room to accommodate the sliver or roving holding cans.

To support the shaft 35 and its brush 23 so that the brush may be raised or lowered radially of the drum' 3 to accommodate the use of the brush 23 upon various heights of needle cylinders, and also further to adjust the brush to take care of wear upon its teeth 24; the side frames l4l4' 7 nal box 56, is slidingly mounted in each opening 51, and is held in its desired adjusted position by means of the set screws 63-63, the strips 60 and screws 60, permitting the box 56 to be positioned in the respective opening 51. A hearing block 62, is mounted for adjustable movement in the bore 6| of the box 56, and itself is provided with the eccentrically placed bore or bearing 66, for the shaft 35, a set screw 65 being provided to hold the block 62 in adjusted position. Thus by moving the box 56 in'the openings 51 by means of set screws 6363', the shaft 35 and its brush 23 will be moved up or down with the shaft I 6' the center of the arc of the movement, while by rotating slightly the cam or eccentric blocks 62, the shaft 35 and its brush 23 will be moved to or from the drum l6. I

As shown in Fig. '7, an adjusting means is provided for the shafts of the various carding cylinders, 2| and 22, so that any wear on the carding teeth thereof may be taken care of, and also the relative positions of the cooperating pairs of cylinders may be changed. In this instance the frames I l-l4, are provided with openings 6|, to receive the adjustable blocks 62', which are locked in place by the set screws 65'. In each instance, the blocks 6262' are provided with spanner recesses 61-61, to assist in the adjusting of elements, and where so desired a gauge may be marked upon each block and adjacent support therefor, so that the pairs of blocks can be more precisely adjusted and set.

It willbe seen that with the attachment as herein shown and described, the brush 'I5-.

will brush the free ends of the fibers that form the pile while held in the needles upwardly and out of the way of the free ends or barbs of the needles and at a point just previous to the action of the presser disk 30 thereon. Thus the loop of the yarn and the fibers held in the hooks of theneedles will be pressed downwardly and moved on to the shank of the needles, so that a free and clear hook will be presented to first receive the next tuft 'of fibers and just previous to the placing of the yarn within the hook, the release of the material upon the shank by the Zpresser disk 30, permitting the loop and the fibers then held upon the shank to rise up over the depressed barb or point of the needle and to em- I brace the yarn and fibers now in the hook of the needle which is then formed in to the next succeeding loop and fiber combination. Thus the brush I insures the posfioning of the free ends of the fibers of the last formed loop and also against the falling of the free ends of fibers thereabove, and permits with the action of the disk. 15, the presentation of a clear needle hook .to receive the next loop forming yarn and the next pile forming fibers therein. By this means the-breakage of needles due to overcrowding and packing of the previously knitted fibers is overcome.

From the foregoing description'taken' in connection with the drawings, it is evident that there has now been provided a fiber feeding device operable upon spring needle machines as well as latch needle machines; that a means has been provided for adjusting the brush 23 so that it can be moved up for latch needles and dropped or lowered for spring needles; that the pile upon the material during the fiber feeding operation may be brushed to lie longitudinally of the fabric and so that the free ends thereof are not in the way of the 5110M eding fiber feeding operations but are clear of the needles, the former making it more easy to finish the material while the latter saves breakage .and'injury of the needles; and 5 also by the formation of .the frame I l-I4 of substantially closed construction, as curved sheet 68 with the suction hose attaching nipple 69 may be provided toconvert the complete machine into a suction head, sothat loose fibers can be carried away from the machine during the fiber feeding operation, a low suction action being advisable and from and through the bottom of the machine.

What is claimed, is:-

1. A fiber feeding attachment for knitting machines including a frame, a carding means mounted therein, means for receiving the fibers from the carding means and for delivering the fibers to the needles of the knitting machine, a presser device carried by the frame and disposed in spaced relation to the latter means, whereby the said latter means and the presser device are upon opposite sides of the needles, and a pile setting means is operably connected to the carding means to be driven simultaneously therewith.

2. A fiber feeding attachment for knitting machines including a frame, a carding means mounted therein, means for receiving the fibers from the carding means and for delivering the fibers to the needles of the knitting machine, a presser device carried by the frame and disposed in spaced relation to the latter means-whereby the said latter means and the presser device are upon opposite sides of the needles, said latter means being a rotatable brush and the presser 3,; device being a rotatable disk, a shaft operated simultaneously with said brush, and a pile setting rotatable brush, operably connected to said shaft and disposed to operate upon the pile of the material carried by the knitting machine at a point -4 in advance of the engagement of the fiber feeding brush with the needles.

3. A fiber feeding attachment for knitting machines, including two side plates, carding elements journaled in the side plates operatively 5 associated between the plates, and a hood having a suction outlet encasing the greater portion of the upper edges of the plates and constituting therewith a suction head open through the bot-- tom.

4. A fiber feeding attachment as claimed in claim 3, wherein the operating mechanism for the carding elements are external of the plates.

5. A fiber feeding attachment as claimed in claim 3, in which the journals of the carding elements are adjustable.

6. A fiber feeding attachment as claimed in claim 3, in which a fiber feeding brush is journaled in the side plates to receive the fibers from the carding elements, and in which a portion thereof projects beyond the hood.

7 A fiber feeding attachment for knitting machines, including two side plates, c'arding elements mounted between the plates upon shafts journaled in the'plates, a fiber feeding brush 5 journaled in the plates and disposed to receive the fibers from the elements, a hopper fitting over the edges of the two side plates to close the rear and top, the fiber feeding brush having a portion exposed beyond the front portions of the .70 side plates, and a suction hose attaching nipple carried by the hopper.

. DAVID PELTON MOORE. 

